Thread: can't be sharp enough right?

hi guys!

couldn't resist trying, have stropped the blade on leather another 50 times, making sure i kept the blad spine on the strop, turns out i was doing it (albiet carefully the other way, lifting the blade off and turning it opposite to how it turns when always left in contact) so seems likely i may have rolled the blade inadvertently.

anyway, seems i can now cut arm hair without touching skin, will try a few more passes on canvas now and back to leather and see what i end up with.

thanks so much for your help! will let you know how i get on.

All sound advice. Just a few random thoughts:

• More often than not, when a beginner thinks the blade is at fault, it isn't.

• The HHT can work, but only if you know what exactly you're looking for, and even then, there are known limitations.

• When a beginner thinks he's not applying any pressure, it's usually too much. Likewise, when pressure is needed, it is usually either too little or too much.

Shaving with a straight razor is a learnt skill. I think I could get a passable shave out of a razor that is sub par, because I know the techique, got the angles and skin stretching right, and use the best shaving paraphernalia in the market (for me, only).

What I would recommend is to send the razor off to a pro again (can be back in three days within Europe), just to be on the safe side. Use the time in between to read the beginner's guide (see my sig), paying as much attention as possible to the articles on preparation and stropping. We've spent a lot of time ammassing that kind of knowledge from the forums, and condensing it into a few articles that should by now really cover all the basics.

Good luck, and keep us updated on your progress.

Regards,
Robin

Sounds like you might be on the right track. Take a look at the barber manual section on stropping. It's helped a lot of people.

File:Help Files Permanent Archive Barbering Textbooks 1961 Barbering Text

Light pressure when stropping, as mentioned. And, for the first few times, you might consider laying the strop on the edge of a table to make sure you it isn't sagging too much.

Originally Posted by keenedge

Sounds like you might be on the right track. Take a look at the barber manual section on stropping. It's helped a lot of people.

File:Help Files Permanent Archive Barbering Textbooks 1961 Barbering Text

The manual in the link above, provided by keenedge, suggests practicing flipping the razor between the tips of the thumb and forefinger without doing the stroke. I think this is a great idea. It points out that holding the tang between the tips of the thumb and forefinger without bending the wrist allows for a better feel for a light touch that is best in stropping a razor.

so much great advice!

Thanks again guys!

will go for another shave after more correct stropping tomorrow and let you know how i get on.

+1 for the barber's manual.

As a new straight razor shaver, I was having problems with keeping a good edge. It was recommended that I read the section on honing and stropping in the barber's manual.

After reading the manual, I discovered my grip on the razor during stropping was wrong and appears to have been the main cause of my problems.

I highly recommend reading the barber's manual. It was a great help to me.

Good luck

just had another attempt!

did 50 passes on canvas first followed by 50 on leather, and paid attention to technique resisting the temptation to go faster as felt comfortable with it and keeping the spine in contact at ALL times.

I'm still not getting the bite into the ball of the thumb mind but certainly sharper, now have my first small nick to prove it ;-)

the shave was noticeably better this time, much less pulling and even managed to shave my neck too this time, only leaves my goatee area which i'll try once i've had a few more successful shaves

so next question is: can you over strop? based on the improvement i got after this mornings stropping i'm thinking it needs quite a bit more to get it to full shave readiness but i don't want to make matters worse now by doing too much if thats possible?

thx again guys, feeling much happier today, what a difference day makes! (there's a song in there somewhere)

No, you cannot overstrop. You can, however, dull an edge quickly and efficiently by using inappropriate sharpness tests. The TPT is one such test.

Please have the razor professionally honed.

it was professionally honed by a guy from the forum so i think i dulled the edge some how when i first stropped it, kinda annoying but i can't expect to get it all right first time, as much as i try!

as i said, it was a BIG improvement today over yesterday and i'll strop it a load more tomorrow and see if that helps improve it again, the sharpness tests you posted are great, thanks for that, certainly not sharp enough for the HHT though so guess i've got some way to go before i'm truly shave ready.

i do have a norton combo stone 4000/8000 which i could (sharp intake of breath from everyone ) give it a quick go on the 8000 using the new info i have at my disposal.